If you're like me, you probably just got done with your school year. Long gone are the days of writing care plans, research papers, and lab reports. No more are the endless nights of studying for a constant string of exams. Well, you're done with all this nonsense for three months, and now you need something else to occupy your time. I know the thought of picking up anything book-related is probably super unappealing, but don't let your mind turn to mush while you await the mental stimulation that is college. I dare you to read a book. Yes, a book. One book, seven books, 25 books. Just read something other than your ex-best friend's cousin's Facebook post about going to Florida. If you need a little lit-spiration, here is my list of my top10 favorite summer reads.

1. "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed

This is an excellent summer read. "Wild" is a memoir of a woman who lost sight of who she was after a traumatic experience. In order to reconnect with herself and battle the memories haunting her, Cheryl sets off to hike the Pacific Crest Trail through scorching hot sun, ice and snow, animals, blood and bruises, all by herself.

2. "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

I'll be honest, I only initially read this one because I had to for a high school English class, but it easily became one of my favorites. This story is set in Afghanistan and tells the tale of a wealthy young boy and a less fortunate boy, the son of his father's servant.

3. "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger

I firmly believe that there are certain books that everyone should read before adulthood, and this is one of them. This novel centers around a young man named Holden Caufield and through his stream-of-consciousness rambling, you are taken through a number of interwoven tales about teenage angst, rebellion, isolation, and loneliness. It sounds weird because it is just that, but it is one hell of an interesting read.

4. "One Writer's Beginnings" by Eudora Welty

I was forced to read this for my AP Language class in high school, and I thanked my teacher for making me read this. In this autobiography, Welty teaches the reader countless writing techniques (sounds boring, I know) by telling stories about her childhood memories. Even if you aren't a writer, and many of us are not, this book is still worth a read. It makes one not only a better writer, but a better reader.

5. "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmund Rostand

Even though it is a play, not a book, "Cyrano de Bergerac" is my favorite piece of literature of all time. I can't even tell you how many times I have read it. The story is about a man named Cyrano, the most courageous and dexterious fighter, the most intelligent, the most eloquent poet, and the ugliest man in his town. He is in love with his cousin, Roxanne (try not to judge, this play is old, when it was apparently okay to love your cousin), but ends up helping another, much more attractive and much less intelligent man, Christian, woo her. It's basically a romantic comedy, which is why they made a modern day movie version of it called "Roxanne", for the Steve Martin fans out there.

6. "And the Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini

To be quite honest, I haven't finished this book. I'm actually only on page 97. What I can tell you is that it is another wonderfully crafted story by Hosseini, equal to that of "The Kite Runner". If you loved "The Kite Runner", please read this book. Again, I am only 97 pages in and I already know that I am in for an amazing journey.

7. "Walden; or, Life in the Woods" by Henry David Thoreau

"Walden" is basically THE summer reading book. It's a classic transcendentalist piece about living in the woods completely alone, away from the troubles of society. Grab a copy, sit outside, and let Thoreau take you away from today.

8. "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie

If you are looking for an easier, more light-hearted read, this book is excellent. It isn't as difficult to read in comparison to some others on this list, so I got through it in about a week. It's short, witty, hilarious, sad at times, and very real, telling the story about a teen on a reservation who decides to go to an all-white public high school.

9. "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon

This is a mystery novel about a fifteen-year-old boy who thinks a little bit differently than others. He finds his neighbors dog, Wellington, dead and decides to figure out what exactly happens. This is an extremely interesting read, as it is from the perspective of a teen with a different way of thinking.

10. "Catch 22" by Joseph Heller

This is another book that I had to read for AP Lit, but eventually turned into one of my favorites. It tells the story of Yossarian, a WWII fighter pilot, and his airmen trying to stay sane while in the craziness of war. This satire is hilarious and clever, as it quite literally uses catch-22's to demonstrate the paradox that is war itself.

I know that odds are you won't finish this list in three months time. Hell, it took me YEARS to read all of these! These books all found me at different points in my life when I needed them. Whether I had to for English class, my sister told me to read it, or I was bored and picked it up at the used bookstore, these books found me. As my challenge for your bored college kids out there this summer: I dare you to let one of these books find you.